Machine for testing and assorting articles according to electrical characteristics



Nov. 4, 1947. w. s. REYNOLDS MACHINEFOR TESTING AND ASSORTING ARTICLES ACCORDING TO ELECTRICAL CHARACTERISTICS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 25 1944 INVENTOR. wqkkmilfl maos BY a2. aixyz O v I w. s. REYNOLDS 2,430,080 MACHINE FOR TESTING AND ASSORTING ARTICLES ACCORDING TO ELECTRICAL CHARACTERISTICS Nov. 4,1947.

Filed Sept. 25, 1944 4 SheeIs-Sheet 2 1- I m v 0 a 5 l I I" \H I l .& K1 5' i In. l u \R I I v I 4 I 'llll o p :IIIHI I l I I' I 5 {B A \INVENTORQ Mmezn/ J- KEY/9040's ATT NEYS MACHINE FOR' TESTING AND ASSORTING ARTICLES ACCORDING TO ELECTRICAL CHARACTERISTICS Nov. 4-, 1947. v w. s; REYNOLDS 2,4309% Filed Sept 23, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 I N V EN TOR.

Nov. 4, 1947. w. s. REYNOLDS 2,430,030 MACHINE FOR TESTING AND ASSORTING ARTICLES ACCORDING TO ELECTRICAL CHARACTERIS'IQICS Filed Sept. 25, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

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ATTO E76 Patented Nov. 4, 1947 MACHINE FOR TESTING AND ASSORTING ARTICLES ACCORDING TO ELECTRICAL CHARACTERISTICS Warren S. Reynolds, Stratford, Conn., assignor to Remington Arms Company, Inc., Bridgeport, Conn., a corporation of Delaware Application September 23, 1944, Serial No. 555,446 8 Claims. (01. 209-81) articles being manufactured and is particularly adapted for use in assorting defective electric primers, such as used in ammunition, from acceptable electric primers. An electrical primer must have a resistance coming within a certain predetermined value in order to operate properly without fail in the ammunition or the purpose for which designed. The primer must not be open-circuited, have too low a resistance, or have too high a resistance.

One of the objects of the present machine is to efficiently and rapidly separate primers having the correct range of resistance from those which are defective. The details of the circuit per se are described in ccpending application Serial No. 547,736, filed August 2, 1944. These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description and drawings.

In the drawings- Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the machine, certain parts being shown in partial section and certain other parts having been removed for clarity in illustration.

Fig. 2 is a front view of the machine solenoid removed.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken in the direction 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a rear view of the machine showing the driving cam.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 2, showing the construction at the acceptance punch station.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail showing the contact arrangement of the dial.

Fig. 7 is generally similar to Fig. 6, except a single contact arrangement is shown.

Fig. 8 is a detail view showing the shape of one of the contacts.

Fig. 9 is a detail view of one form of primer which may be tested with the present invention.

Fig. 10 is similar to Fig. 2, with the exception that the solenoids are shown in position.

Fig. 11 is a circuit diagram of one form of circuit which may be used with the present machine.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged detail of a modified form of the contact arrangement.

The machine comprises an indexable dial 20 carried by shaft 2| which is indexed by means of cam 22 acting upon cam rollers 23, said cam rollers being carried on disk 24 which is fastened to shaft 2|. The dial 20 is mounted on shaft' 2| by means of washer I06 (Fig. 5) and cap screw with the I91. The primers are fed from a hopper (not shown) to the chute 25, the primers being arranged so that their axes are parallel to the main operating shaft 2|. The primers roll down the chute and into apertures 26 contained in the edge of the dial 20, said apertures opening radially. Guide plates 21 and 28 are held by screws 29 and 30 to the frame of the machine in any suitable manner, such as by passing through spacerblocks l5 and I6. Other screws I1 and spacers I8 serve to hold the guide plate assembly. Located be tween guide plates 21 and 28 is an apertured guide disk 3| which may be of fibre or other nonconducting material. The guide disk 3| extends from'a point'lii adjacent the feed station to a point after the acceptance station for the purpose which will be described hereafter.

A drive motor I08 may drive pulley I09 through a gear box III] or by any desired means. Belt III, in turn, drives pulley H2. Pulley IIZ is mounted on shaft H3, on which are mounted indexing cam 22 and handwheel H5, handwheel H5 having cam 64 cut therein. Indexing cam 22 is arranged to hold two of the rollers 23 by rib H6 so 'as to lock the dial 20 during the inspection operation. The portion of the cam shown at the to of Fig. 4 then indexes shaft 2| in a conventional manner.

The plates 27, 28, and 3| serve as a means to guide and hold the primers in their apertures 23 in the work transfer dial 20 as they are indexably rotated in the machine. A primer is indexed from the feed point to the first inspection station 32, at which point the conductivity of the primer is determined. This determination is made by means of contact 33 (Figs. 1 and 6) engaging the primer on one side and the pivoted contact element 34 engaging the primer element on the other side. Contact element 34 is pivoted to swing to engage the primer after it arrives at the station and is stationary, pivoted contact element 34 comprising the switch carrying block 36 pivoted at 35, the contact blades being indicated at 31 and 38, fastened to said block by screws 39.

Ends 4|! and 4| serve to contact the primer body 42 as shown in Fig. 6, the ends 43 and 4| contacting either end of the primer body, depending on its arrangement in the ,dial. The other side of the primer body has been moved into contact with contact blades 43 and 44 of the stationary contact 33, said contact blades being mounted on block 45 by screws 46. The blades 43- 44, 40-4|, are separated and insulated from each other in any suitable manner. It is to be understood, of course, that a single contact arrangement may be used, such as shown in Fig. '7, the contactors being selected in accordance with the desired results.

The ends of the switch contacts may take the shape shown in Fig. 8 at 41 so as to facilitate engagement with the ends of the primers.

As stated previously, the machine has been designed particularly to test an electrically operated primer suitable for use in ammunition of the small arms variety, although it is to be distinctly understood that articles other than primers may be tested, such as fuse elements, and other articles required to carry definite quantities of current or to have certain electrical properties. In Fig. 9 is found a cross-section of one type of primer which may be tested by the present machine, wherein the body is indicated at 68, said body being made of a metal such as brass. Located in the upper part of the body is a button 39 of brass or stainless steel which is separated from the body 48 by suitable dielectric cup 55. The resistance wire is shown at located in contact with the body at 52 and in contact with the button at 53 so as to form an electrical connection between button 49 and body 48. The primer composition may be placed in the primer in contact or adjacent the resistance wire, so that upon heating thereof, ignition of the primer composition will result. One form of specific circuit which may be employed will be described hereafter.

Switch 34 is urged in a clockwise or contacting direction (Fig. 6) by means of spring 54 adjustably mounted on bracket 55 by screw 56. At the lower end of the pivoted switch, a rod or wire 51 is carried rearwardly in the machine through a bushing 58 (Fig. 1) located in an axially reciprocable disk or plate 59, said plate being slidably mounted on shaft 21. Rod 51 has an enlarged head 60 cooperating with the end (it of bushing 58. When the disk 59 is moved to the right, enlarged head 60 will be grasped and moved to the right with the disk so as to move wire 51 to the right and rotate switch 53 about its pivot 35, carrying blades 45 and M away from the dial.

The contacts 4! and 44 may be connected to the primary I25 of a transformer system, such as will be described hereafter. The micro-switch 52 may be placed in the lead from the source of power to current contacts 40 and 43. The microswitch 62 is located on the frame of the machine and has an operating button 53 (Fig. 1) arranged in a conventional manner.

After the dial has indexed so as to carry a primer to the first inspection station 32, axially slidable disk 59 will be moved to the left by cam 64 operating on bell crank lever 65, shaft 55, and arm 81. Arm 6! is engageable in a slot 68 located on the hub Ill. of the axially reoiprocable disk 59. Disk 59 moves to the left so that the rod 51 is allowed to move to the left under the urgence of spring 54 until contacts 45 andfil meet the primer located in a pocket in the dial at this station. Thereafter, disk 59 continues its movement, rod 5'1 stopping at this point. Continued movement of disk 59 will cause adjustable abutment H to contact micro-switch button 53 and close the micro-switch, thereby completing the power circuit to the primer. Thus, current does not flow through the primer to be tested until the contacts are touching the same. In the event. the primer conductivity does not fall within certain predetermined limits, the solenoid 8! will be operated to press inwardly the plunger 32 located at this station and corresponding. to.

the defective primer. Plunger 82 and the other plungers are carried by the dial 20 in suitable apertures and held in the location to which they have been moved by means of ball 83 (Figs. 5 and 6) urged by the spring 84 into the suitable notch 85 or 86 in a plunger. Further indexing of the dial carries the primer to the second inspection station at 8?, where another switch arrangement contacts the primer to make a second inspection thereof. This second circuit is similar to the first one and, if desired, may be set to closer limits. It is, of course, to be understood that only one testing station is absolutely necessary but that the second one may be desirable for some purposes in order to serve as a check on the first station and also to be set within slightly smaller limits. Assuming that a primer has been determined to be defective and its corresponding plunger pressed inwardly, as the primer and plunger is indexed to the acceptance station, a plunger 82 will contact the inner end 88 (Figs. 2 and 5) of the pivoted lever 89, said lever being urged by spring 90 in a clockwise direction about the pivot 9|, rotation of the bell crank lever being limited by striking the shank of screw 29'. As shown in Fig. 2, a spacer block 76 is provided as a mounting for the guide plates 21 and 28. For clarity in illustration of parts therebehind, the spacer i6 is not shown in Fig. 1. However, as shown by the dotted lines on Fig. 2, the spacer I6 is recessed to provide clearance for the operation of the lever 89. The plunger which has been pressed inwardly will contact, and rotate, bell crank lever 89 so that the end 92 will be in engagement with a notch 55' in the shank of punch 95 to prevent engagement thereof with a primer located at 53 when the dial comes to rest at this station.

After the dial comes to rest, plate 59 will be moved to the left (Fig. 1), carrying therewith the spring loaded punch arrangement 94, said punch 95 (Fig. 5) being pressed outwardly by means of spring 95 and limited in its outward movement by some suitable stop mechanism such as pin and slot 97. Shank Sit-is fastened by means of bolt 99 to the dial 55. If the bell crank lever 89 has not been rotated by a plunger 82, acceptance punch 55 will move an acceptable primer out of the dial into chute I02. If the bell crank 89 has blocked movement of the punch 95, and on continued movement of the dial, the primer will be carried to the point I50, Where it will be free to roll down the reject chute It". In the event it sticks in one of the dial pockets for any reason, it will be carried to the reject station 105, where a punch located on disk 55. and similar to 94 will positively eject the primer from the dial into the ejection chute ifll.

A plunger 103 is fastened to disk 59 at station HM and serves to reset the plungers 8.2 if they have been moved. The rejection plunger at will, in addition toits rejection function, serve as a check on the positioning means for the dial, since on each movement of the disk 59 to the left, the reject plunger passes through the dial pocket stopped in opposition thereto.

In Fig. 12 is shown a modified form of the: contact arrangement, the parts similar to that shown in Figs. 6 and '7 being given identical numbers. In this modified form both sets of contacts are pivoted toward and away from the primer. Pivoted member 35 carries contact blades 38 and 39 having ends 41 and 45 which contact a primer in the dial 20: at. 185. The spring 54 carried in bracket 55 urges pivoted arm. 36. about pivot 35..

Operating rod 57 is operable in the manner previously described for Figs. 6 and 7 to withdraw contact ends 49 and M from a primer in the dial. The blades 43 and M- are carried by the pivoted member ISI which is pivoted at I92 to the fixed member I93. The upper end of pivoted member 36 is connected pivotally at I95 by means of the adjustable connection let to the pivoted member I9I. When the operating rod 57 is allowed to move to the left so as to permit rotation of member 36 about pivot 35 in a clockwise direction, moving the pivoted blades 49 and 4! toward the primer, the adjustable connection I96 will be moved to the right so as to draw the pivoted contact arm I9I in a counterclockwise direction and thus move the contact blades 43 and i l against the primer substantially simultaneously with the right hand set of blades. The contact blades can be connected to the circuit in the same manner as described for Figs. 6 and 7.

The circuit shown in Fig. 11 is described in copending application Serial No. 547,736, filed August 2, 1944, and, therefore, a brief description only will be given, details and equivalent circuits being described in said copending application. An alternating current source may be impressed across terminals I20 and I2 I. The primer is indicated at I22 with the resistance element thereof at I23. Contacts 45, 4|, 43, and 34 are provided between which the primer is moved, as previously discussed. If desired, single contacts may be used in place of the double contacts. A standard resistance or impedance I 38 is provided and a leakage impedance I35 may be used. Resistance or impedance I to can be used in order to limit the current or to balance the circuit as required. The path of alternating current is terminal I2I, wire MI, contact 43, resistance I23, contact iii, wire I42, resistance I38, wire I24, and terminal I28. The flow of current through resistance I23 will result in a potential being developed across contacts 44 and EI and said potential is impressed on primary I25 of transformer I26. The potential developed across the fixed resistance I 38 is impressed on primary I27 of transformer I41. Transformers I25 and I 11 preferably should be magnetically and electrostatically shielded. Secondaries I48 and 59 are connected oppositely through wire I58, resistance I5I, and condenser I52. Resistance I5I and condenser I52 are placed in the secondary circuit of the transformers to serve as a high frequency filter. Condenser I53 can be used to correct and insure that the two opposed alternating currents in said transformer secondaries are in phase with each other. Control grid- I54 of screen grid tube I55 is connected by wire I56 to the secondary circuit at I57. Tubes shown are of the screen grid type with suppressor and screen grids, but it is obvious that they may be of any well-known electronic tube variety. The resultant alternating voltage produced in the oppositely connected secondary circuit of the transformers is arranged to give a resultant zero voltage therein if the resistance I23 is of the correct volume. In the event that the resistance I 23 changes beyond predetermined limits, a voltage will be developed in the secondary circuit which will be other than zero.

Tube I55 is employed as an amplifier to amplify an alternating current signal impressed on the control grid I5 1 to give an amplified alternating current at point I68. The alternating potential at point I68 is impressed on the control grid I69 of tube I51. Tube I61 is operated as a detector tube in a well-known and conventional manner.

Condenser I16 serves as a blocking condenser in the grid circuit and resistance I'II serves as a bias resistance for the control grid I69 of tube I61. The 'plate circuit of tube Iii! includes plate I12, cathode I'I3, power supply connection I'M,'and relay coil I II, relay I'IIl bein unenergized normally and operated to closed position by tube I61. Condenser I78 is provided as a shunt across solenoid coil III so as to smooth out the direct current pulses at this point and keep the relay from chattering. Operation of relay IIi] will cause switch I19 to contact blade I80 and complete the circuit through operating solenoid coil 8| the coil 8I being that shown in Fig. 10, for example. The plunger I82 of the solenoid may be used to operate one of the plungers 82 on the dial of the inspection machine. An interlock switch 62, as previously described, is provided to operate in synchronism with the dial so as to energize the circuit only after the contacts have engaged a primer following dial indexing. I It is obvious that various other arrangements may be used for employing the impulses or potential delivered to the solenoid to operate other control devices. It is also obvious that other amplifying means may be used, the amplifier eliminated, or the amplifier and detector transposed. Power for operation of the amplifier is supplied by means of a conventional full wave rectifier tube I83 and filter circuit I94, the power supply being fed from any suitable source of alternating current at I85. The operating motor H8 for the testing machine may be connected through a time delay switch I81 to be sure the electrical circuit is operative before the testing machine motor is started. a

What is claimed is: 1. In a testing machine, a dial having article receiving recesses therein; movable rejection plungers carried by said dial corresponding to each of said recesses; pivoted electrical contact means urged toward said dial at an inspection station; means operable to withdraw said contact means away from said dial until an article has been indexed to the inspection station; electrical testing means connected to said contact means to move a rejection plunger in said dial if an article tested thereby is beyond predetermined electrical characteristics; reciprocable plunger means for removing articles at an acceptance station following said inspection station; and an arm movable into the path of reciprocation of said reciprocable plunger by a rejection plunger which has been actuated by said electrical testing means. I

2. In a testing machine, a dial having article receiving recesses therein; movable rejection plungers carried by said dial corresponding to each of said recesses; pivoted electrical contact means urged toward said dial at an inspectionstation; means operable to withdraw said contact means away from said dial including an operator, a reciprocable member, and an enlarged head on said operator held by said reciprocable member until after an article has been indexed to the testing station; electrical testing means connected to said contact means to move a rejection plunger in said dial if an article tested thereby is beyond predetermined electrica1 characteristics; reciprocable plunger means for removing articles at an acceptance station following said inspection station; and an arm movable into the path of reciprocation of said reciprocable plunger by a rejection plunger which has been actuated by said testing means.

3. In a testing machine, a dial having article receiving recesses therein; movable rejection n ungers. carried by said dial corresponding to each of said recesses; pivoted electrical contact means spring urged toward one. side of said dial at an. inspection station; contact means on the opposite side of said inspection station; an operating means with an enlarged head connected to said pivoted electrical contact means; a reciprocable disc having an aperture therein. through which said operating means passes; means to move said reciprocable disc. toward said dial after an article has been indexed to the testing station to. allow the pivoted electrical contact means to contact an article. in the dial; electrical testing mean connected to said contact means; a solenoid connected to said electrical testing means for p ratin a rejection plunger in said dial if an. article tested is beyond predetermined electrical characteristics; reciprocable plunger means for removing articles at an acceptance S ation f llow-- ing said inspection station; and an arm movable into the path ofreciprocation of said reciprocable plunger by a rejection plunger which has been actuated by s id testing means.

4;. In. a testing machine,v a dial having article receiving recesses therein; movable rejection phmgers carried by said dial corresponding to each of; said recesses; pivoted electrical. contact means spring r ed toward said dial at an in spection station; an operating rod with an enlarged head; a reciprocatin disc having,- an aperture smaller than s id enlar ed d; electrical contact m ans on the other side of sa d i l at said inspection station; means to reciprocate said disc toward said dial to allow said pivoted electrical contact means to move against an. article in said dial at said inspection station; electrical testing means connected to said contacts; nor. mally open switch means connected in saidelectrical testing circuit movable to closed position by said disc after said pivoted contact means have contacted an article, said electrical testing means being connected to a solenoid which is operable to move a rejection plunger in said dial if an article tested is beyond predetermined electrical characteristics; reciprocable plunger means for removing articles at an acceptance station following said inspection station; and an arm movable into the path of reciprocation of said reciprccable plunger by a rejection plunger which has been actuated by said testing means.

5, In a testing machine, an. indexable dial having article receiving recesses therein, movable rejection plungers carried by said dial.- cor-responds ing to. each of said recesses, said Plullgers. being movable into a position extending from a fa e. oi said dial pivoted electrical contact means spring urged toward said dial at an inspection station; an. operatin rod with an enlarged head; a reciprocating disc having an aperture smaller than said enlarged head; electrical contact means at aid. inspection station on the other side. of said dial; means to reciprocate said disc toward said dial to allow said pivoted electrical contact means to move against an article in said dial at. said inspection station; electrical. testing. means, com nected. to said contacts; normally open switch means. connected in said electrical testing circult, movablev to. closed position by said disc aiter said pivoted contact means have contacted an. article, said electrical testing. means being con nected to, a. solenoid which is operable to move. a reject plunger to an extended position iroin said dial if an article tested is beyond predetermined electrical characteristics; reciprocabl plunger means for removing articles at an acceptancestation following said inspection station; and a pivoted. arm. at said acceptance station urged out of the path of: said reciprocable plunger-by yieldin means, said. arm being moved. into the path of reciprocation of said reciprocable plunger by an extended. reject plunger which has been actuated by said testing. means.

6. In a. testing machine, an indexable dial having articlev receiving recesses therein; movable rejection plungerscarr-ied by said dial corresponding to. each of said. recesses, said plungers being movable into a position. extending from a face of said dial; pivoted electrical Contact means spring urged toward said dial at. an. inspection s ation; an, operating rod with. an enlarged head; a reciprocating disc, having an aperture smaller than said enlarged head; electrical contact means at said inspection station on. the; other side of. said dial; means to reciprocate said disc toward said dial to allow said pivoted electrical contact means to. move against an article in said dial at said inspection station; electrical testing means connected to said contacts; normally open switch meansconnected in said electrical testing circuit movable to closed position by said disc after said pivoted contact means have contacted an article, said electrical testing means being connected to a solenoid which is operable to move a reject p ger to an extended position from said dial if an article. tested is beyond predetermined electrical characteristics; reciprocable plunger means for removing articles at an acceptance station following said inspection station; a. pivoted arm at said acceptance station urged out of the. path. of saidreciprocable plunger by yielding, means, said arm being moved into.- the path of reciprocation of said reciprocable plunger byan extended reject plunger whichv has been actuated by said testing means; aresetplllnger for resetting extended re jection plungers; and a second reciprocable plunger for insuring removal of articles from said dial at a reject station and at the same time assisting in positioning of the dial after indexing,

7. In a. testing machine, a. dial having article receiving recesses. therein; movable rejection plungers. carried by said dial corresponding to each of said recesses; pivoted electrical contact means urged toward said dial atv an inspection station; an operating means with an enlarged head connected to, said pivoted electrical contact means; a reciprocable, disc having an aperture therein through which said operating means passes; means to move said reciproca-ble disc, toward said dial after an article has. been indexed to. the testing station to allow the pivoted electri cal contact means. to. contact an. article. in the dial; electrical testing means. connected to said contact. means; a solenoid connected to said electricaltesting means for operating a reject plunger in saiddial. if an article tested isbeyond predetermined electrical characteristics ;v yieldable. plunger means. mounted on said disc for removing. articles. at an. acceptance station following said inspection. station; and an arm movable into. the. path of said yieldable plunger by a rejection plunger which has been actuated by said testing means.

8., In. a testing machine. a dial having article receiving recesses therein; movable rejection plungers, carried by said dial. corresponding to. each of said recesses; pivoted electrical contact means. urged toward. said dial at an inspection station; an operating means with an enlarged head connected to. said pivoted electrical contact means; a reciprocable disc having an aperture therein through which said operating means passes; means to move said reciprocable disc toward said dial after an article has been indexed to the testing station to allow the pivoted e1ectrical contact means to contact an article in the dial; electrical testing means connected to said contact means; a solenoid connected to said electrical testing means for operating a reject plunger in said dial if an article tested is beyond predetermined electrical characteristics; yieldable plunger means mounted on said disc for removing articles at an acceptance station following said inspection station; an arm movable into the path of said yieldable plunger by a rejection plunger which has been actuated by said testing means; yieldable plunger means mounted on said disc for removing articles at an acceptance station following said inspection station; a pivoted arm at said acceptance station urged out of the path of said yieldable plunger by a yielding means,

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,832,948 Schmidt Nov. 24, 1931 1,652,298 Burton Dec. 13, 1927 1,254,690 Hazard Jan. 29, 1918 2,020,964 Reiter Nov. 12, 1935 2,270,613 Young Jan. 20, 1942 2,318,856 Hofiman May 11, 1943 1,821,240 Seletzky Sept, 1, 1931 

